secahttps://www.seca.com
seca newsde_DEsecaTue, 14 Aug 2018 04:09:13 +0000Tue, 14 Aug 2018 04:09:13 +0000TYPO3news-1287Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:50:59 +0000seca earns certification according to ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP)https://www.seca.com/fi_fi/yritys/news/details/article/seca-earns-certification-according-to-iso-9001-iso-13485-and-the-medical-device-single-audit-progra.html
The German and French quality management systems of seca, the leading manufacturer of medical measuring systems and scales, have been certified according to the revised standards ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 in an audit conducted by TÜV-Süd. In addition, the quality management system at seca headquarters in Hamburg received the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) certificate. It shows that seca officially satisfies not only the legal requirements in Europe, but also in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and Brazil.International law makers and government agencies joined up in MDSAP in order to reduce the number of QM system audits in the different target markets. "MDSAP certification allows us to minimize the redundant efforts involved with fulfilling country-specific quality requirements as the participating national registration agencies accept the MDSAP audit report in place of their individual inspections. In future we will be able to accelerate the process of gaining market approvals," said Mark Sonnenkalb, Head of Quality Services at seca. "Meeting the toughest quality standards is part of the seca DNA. The certificates are now the official proof that our products fulfill the requirements of the MDD in Europe and of the five countries participating in MDSAP. Beyond that, the certification secures market access in those countries now and in future."

The seca portfolio includes classic medical measuring systems and scales along with innovative solutions such as networked vital signs monitors, measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify everyday medical work and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA), which has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment with the use of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. seca medical products in Classes I, Im and IIa must fulfill strict quality requirements. The recently conducted audit has confirmed that they do.

seca – precision for healthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

]]>Newsnews-1285Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:11:18 +0000OECD Forum 2018 https://www.seca.com/fi_fi/yritys/news/details/article/oecd-forum-2018.html
Under the motto "What brings us together – moving from diagnosis to action", representatives of the 35 OECD member countries discussed pressing healthcare and economic issues at the OECD Forum in Paris on 29 and 30 May. At the event seca advocated greater clarification and integrated approaches to obesity prevention and care. Forum participants experienced live demonstrations of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and learned that body composition analysis is a better measure than BMI for optimizing obesity diagnostics and treatment and a critical element in an integrated obesity strategy.seca spoke with high-ranking visitors to draw their attention to the background and consequences of the international obesity epidemic and to present potential solutions. The overriding goal should be the implementation of an integrated national obesity strategy that ensures nationwide access to preventative and curative measures and holistic care of affected persons in varied stages of the disease.

In the year 2000 the World Health Organization recognized obesity as a chronic disease. It is not only a chronic, progressive metabolic disorder with complex pathophysiology, but also the trigger for more than 60 concomitant diseases with enormous consequences for patients and healthcare systems. With 1.9 billion overweight and 650 million obese persons in the world, the World Obesity Federation predicts that global costs associated with the disease will rise to 1.2 billion US dollars by 2025. Nevertheless, obesity is still considered a lifestyle problem in several countries. In many cases state health insurance companies cannot meet the demand for services, so affected persons receive inadequate care and sometimes even incorrect treatment.

Basic problem – Definition and diagnosis based on outdated BMI assumptionsA medical starting point for the required national strategies is in the definition and diagnosis of obesity. The approach advocated by seca at the OECD Forum is based on the medical knowledge that pathological overweight and obesity cannot be defined by Body Mass Index (BMI) alone. For BMI disregards the general state of health and critical body composition parameters. Once this information is taken into consideration, meaningful statements can be made regarding the severity of the disease and its suitability for treatment. The experts pointed out that a high BMI also can be caused by a positively high proportion of muscle mass and not only by a dangerously high share of visceral fat or extracellular water.

BIA measuring station from seca makes optimized diagnostics realTo demonstrate the added value of body composition analysis for the definition of obesity and treatment monitoring, seca measured OECD Forum participants on its medical Body Composition Analyser (mBCA). The scientifically validated BIA compensates for the weaknesses of the BMI. In addition to providing the BMI, the seca mBCA equipped with BIA technology also delivers precise measurements of body water, muscle and fat mass. All this information makes it possible to classify the patient's particular situation and assess treatment progress.

OECD General Secretary Gurría has his body composition measured and confirms the need for actionOECD General Secretary Angel Gurría had his body composition measured by the seca mBCA and convinced himself of the added value of the measurement for obesity prevention and therapy. In a conversation with seca, he confirmed the worldwide problem with obesity and said action was required. Among other things, the General Secretary mentioned the increasing overweight in his homeland of Mexico. According to a United Nations report on nutrition around the world, Mexico has a high rate of overweight persons. Seventy percent of the population is overweight, which is accompanied by disastrous consequences for the state of health of the Mexican people.

Politicians have to establish national obesity strategies to fight the problemRobert Vogel, seca managing director: "Obesity prevention fails with the very first step in numerous countries. Despite the world's growing obesity problem, basic healthcare in many places does not include regular weighing at the doctor's office. The chance of detecting weight changes early and intervening is missed. In this case politicians and state health insurers have to take action. The reason this step is not taken is because this service is not covered. On top of that, not every country provides care that's appropriate to each specific stage of the disease. To gain the upper hand in the battle against obesity around the world, we need a bundling of targeted and coordinated measures for prevention, diagnosis and holistic treatment. National obesity strategies to combat the disease could start with political declarations of intent and provide the basis for this urgently needed work."

You'll find more information about potential approaches to fighting obesity, a practical best case scenario for diagnostics and treatment monitoring in the doctor's office, and about seca in the paper "Obesity is a time bomb" at www.seca.com and www.secashop.com

seca – precision for healthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

]]>Newsnews-1249Thu, 01 Mar 2018 13:10:26 +0000seca system solution for greater patient safety and increased efficiency in the neonatal care unithttps://www.seca.com/fi_fi/yritys/news/details/article/seca-system-solution-for-greater-patient-safety-and-increased-efficiency-in-the-neonatal-care-unit.html
Where infants are concerned, highly precise measurements of weight and length are indispensable. Furthermore, data capture and documentation have to be done quickly so that caregivers can focus on the tiniest patients' safety. These demands for precision, efficiency and patient safety are met by the new wifi enabled baby scale seca 336 i/333 i.Optimized workflows prevent transcription errors The scale is equipped with WLAN connectivity and a digital measuring rod which allow weight and length to be transmitted quickly and directly into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. No additional hardware such as PC or tablet is required near the scale. Nursing staff and patients are identified in the hospital information system via a barcode scanner that can be attached to the device, where it is always available for use. Manual documentation or transcription errors are effectively ruled out.

Ready for the future, thanks to integration in existing or planned EMR systems The baby scale seca 336 i/333 i also can be used without a connection to an EMR system. Hospitals which are not ready for EMR integration can work with the scale and benefit from its intuitive operation and accuracy. "When EMR integration is launched in the hospital, the perfect prerequisites for the connectivity are already fulfilled by the wifi enabled baby scale," says Andreas Otto, the seca product manager responsible for the scale. "The extent of digitalization in hospitals varies widely around the world and even from one region to another within the same country. The trend is nevertheless clear. Alone in Germany – which is not exactly a leader in digitalization in health care – the proportion of hospitals with digital projects increased from 46 percent in 2015 to 56 percent in 2016 . Our integration solutions are a logical response to the existing and upcoming market demands and a good option for hospitals that want to ensure their competitiveness in the future.

Benefits at a glance

User and patient identification: Barcode scanner can be connected to the USB port on the scale to allow optional user and patient identification.

Digital measuring rod: The measurements are easy to read on the integrated illuminated LCD display. With the quick press of a key, weight and length are transmitted to the EMR system.

seca – precision for healthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.

]]>Newsnews-1241Tue, 23 Jan 2018 11:29:49 +0000Arab Health 2018 – seca advances digital transformationhttps://www.seca.com/fi_fi/yritys/news/details/article/arab-health-2018-seca-advances-digital-transformation.html
Digitalization in the world of medicine is one of the trending topics at Arab Health 2018. From 29 January to 1 February in Hall 2 at Stand C19 seca will show how the newest integration solutions in medical measuring and weighing simplify labor and time-consuming procedures such as data capture, documentation and archiving and also increase efficiency and safety in everyday hospital work. Other highlights including the vital data monitor seca mVSA (medical Vital Signs Analyzer), seca mBCA (medical Body Composition Analyzer) and a variety of measuring stations can be tested at the trade fair.seca highlights at Arab Health 2018Interface module seca 452Today seca offers many integration-ready products, including the medical Body Composition Analyzer, diverse measuring stations, column scales and the Spot Check Monitor mVSA. With the Interface Module seca 452, seca scales and measuring stations can be refitted economically for full integration via seca software. Because this integration also is made via WiFi from anywhere, no additional hardware such as a PC or tablet is required near the scale or measuring system. Identification of caregivers and patients takes place bi-directionally via the EMR system with the use of the barcode scanner, which is attached to the device where it is always at hand. The module, fastened to the product in an easily assembled holder, is configured centrally via the server. LEDs show when the device is ready for use, give the user feedback on the scanned patient barcode and confirm that the measurements have been transmitted into the EMR system. This process will be presented at the stand with the measuring station seca 284 as an example.

Baby scale seca 333 iPrecision is demanded in the measuring and weighing of babies. Equipped with WiFi and an integrated digital measuring rod, the seca 333 i transmits baby’s length and weight directly into the EMR system from any location. For the optional user and patient ID function, a barcode scanner can be connected to the USB port on the scale. Workflows become more efficient and patient safety improves as the user can concentrate completely on the little ones.

Networked systems bring competitive edgeseca has been working on the digitalization of routine hospital processes for many years. The objective today is not limited to providing the user with precise information about height and weight. Measuring systems and scales from seca record height and weight, vital data and body composition and transmit all data directly to the EMR. “Centralization provides immediate and interdisciplinary access to all relevant patient data. Users can get a complete picture of the patient and hospitals can raise the quality of diagnostics and treatment to a new level. That’s not just a big win for patients but also a good way to strengthen the position of hospitals in the market,” says Robert Vogel, managing director for Sales & Marketing at seca.

Medical assessment: documentation of routine measurements is indispensableThe capture and documentation of vital signs, height and weight are routine tasks which contribute to quality of care and patient safety. “Detailed knowledge of these parameters is very important in routine hospital work,“ says Michael Johannes Maisch, doctor and Chief Medical Advisor at seca. “The accuracy of the data is critical in finding the right medication dosages, particularly of cytostatic drugs and anesthetics. Mixing up patients or juxtaposing numbers in handwritten measurements can have serious consequences for infants or old and weak patients.” Even though it is easy to obtain such data, the process takes time and ties up qualified personnel. The one-time documentation of vital data alone takes 1.5 minutes per patient.

Please visit us at Arab Health in Hall 2, Stand C19 and see for yourself how efficiency improvements can be made. More information about seca can be found at www.seca.com.

seca – precision for healthSince 1840 seca has perfected the skill of developing innovative weighing technology combined with practical functions and has become the world's market leader in medical measuring and weighing. seca measuring systems and scales are sold by 14 branch offices and exported to 110 countries. The seca service network guarantees continuous maintenance of the precision instruments. To provide doctors and medical personnel with professional support, seca maintains close contact to users and tailors innovative products to the exact needs of their medical applications. Examples include networked measuring stations that communicate with each other, service and software systems that simplify medical routines and the medical Body Composition Analyzer (mBCA) which uses Bioelectrical Impedance Measurement (BIA) to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment. Ultra-modern production technology, durable materials and a worldwide quality management system ensure top-level product standards.]]>Newsnews-1027Thu, 01 Dec 2016 14:01:00 +0000The world's first integrated BIA and vital signs measurement from seca is pushing the decline of the Body Mass Index https://www.seca.com/fi_fi/yritys/news/details/article/the-worlds-first-integrated-bia-and-vital-signs-measurement-from-seca-is-pushing-the-decline-of-the.html
Malnutrition, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and all their consequences are among the world's major medical challenges of the 21st century. Nevertheless, the assessment of a patient's state of health and nutritional status is still based on classic vital signs and BMI (Body Mass Index). As critical parameters of body composition are not measured, the opportunities to initiate preventive measures or to optimize treatment remain unused. The seca medical Vital Signs Analyzer (mVSA) compensates for the weaknesses of BMI and increases the potential of non-invasive, ad hoc diagnostics to a completely new level.Bioimpedance and vital signs analysis – A dynamic duo for optimized diagnostics

The seca mVSA is the world's first Spot-Check Monitor which measures the four classic vital signs of blood pressure, SpO2, pulse and temperature plus body composition consisting of fat mass, muscle mass and body water by means of Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA). seca had the precision of these BIA parameters validated against respective gold standards in a multi-center study1 involving different ethnic groups. The options of combining data from body composition and vital signs yield a much faster and more differentiated assessment of the patient's state of health and nutrition status than is possible with vital signs and BMI alone. At the end of the very brief examination, the doctor immediately has all the information required for decision-making.

Cross-indication gains for diagnostics and treatmentThe seca mVSA has added value beyond the treatment of obesity, malnutrition and diabetes. Cross-indication patients and users benefit from the findings, simple operation and especially from the combination options of measured data as the following examples show:

Fluid Management – Timely restoration of hydration statusControlled rehydration treatment for patients suffering from exsiccosis reduces the load on the

heart. With blood pressure and BIA measurements and regular monitoring of the BIVA chart (Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA), which provides graphic representation of the patient's fluid level and cellular mass), medical staff can see whether a healthy hydration level has been achieved. The simultaneous, non-invasive BIA and blood pressure measurement with the seca mVSA saves time and offers a reliable ad hoc assessment of the patient.

Edemas due to heart failure are easier to detect through the results of the seca mVSA. The regular measurement of body composition and blood pressure during diuretic therapy provides valuable information on the health status of the patient. The administration of diuretics can be better controlled through the dual measurement of blood pressure and extracellular water.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

In addition to the general check of oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry (SpO2), it is also sensible in this case to examine the general body composition (e.g. phase angle) to evaluate the entire situation. An improvement of the general health status and an associated rise of the phase angle can be achieved through movement (aerobic exercise). Physical training can improve body composition and the patient’s well-being. Monitoring the phase angle and regular SpO2 measurements using the seca mVSA should accompany these therapies.

The monitoring of vital signs is one of the most time-consuming activities in hospitals and medical practices. The seca mVSA was developed to support these routine checks and lighten the workload. All vital parameters and BIA data are captured quickly by one device and stored directly in the digital patient files. As a part of the seca 360° wireless product world, the seca mVSA provides automatic transmission of height and weight from compatible scales and measuring systems to the device. The benefits are clear: efficiency improvements, time-saving procedures and paperless and error-free transmission of measurements.

Visit us at MEDICA in Hall 12, Stand A63, where you can personally test the seca mVSA and other innovative products from seca. You'll find more information about seca, seca products and seca service at www.seca.com and www.secashop.com.